Vacuum condensation system



Jan. 9, 1934. c BREESE 1,943,105

VACUUM CONDENSAT I ON SYSTEM Filed Sept. 14, 1932 Clayton D-Br e [1V VENTOR By W A 0 Ens Patented .Fan. 9, 1934 UNlTED STATES PATENT @FFEFL The Breese Brothers Company,

Cincinnati,

Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application September 14, 1932 2 Serial N0. 633,139

6 Claims.

This invention relates to vacuum condensation control means for use with steam heating systems and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide improved vacuum condensation means of the class described.

Another object is to provide an improved form of float valve for controlling entry of liquid condensation into the condensation tank.

Another object is to provide such a float Valve having means associated therewith for controlling the pump utilized in the system.

Another object is the provision of improved and automatic means for controlling the liquid content of the circulation tank or" the system.

Another object is the provision in a system of the kind described of means for creating and utilizing a static vacuum for drawing condensation.

Another object is to provide means for controlling the pump through the static vacuum and also through the circulation tank control means, the latter being adapted intermittently to supersede the former in controlling the pump for insuring the required evacuation of the circulation tank.

Another object is to provide means of the class described which are simple, compact and emcient.

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein and illustrated in the accon'ipanyin drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view, with parts broken away, of the vacuum condensation control means of the present invention, the heating system being represented schematically.

Fig. 2 is a view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view of the float control or steam trap shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is amodified form of the float valve, with parts broken away.

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross sectional view of a part of the vacuum creating means utilized herein.

The system and some of the means set forth herein are similar to those described in the copending application of Victor Rosenhagen, Serial No. 603,007, filed April 4, 1932, relating to a Vacuum condensation system.

With reference to the drawing: a boiler 8 is provided, from which steam under pressure is passed through a suitable line 9 to the radiators of a heating system one of which is indicated at 10. According to the present invention, a vac- 55 uum creating means and associated improved mechanism are provided for drawing air and condensation from the system and for controlling the movement of the condensation.

A circulation tank 11 and a condensation tank 12 are preferably disposed side by side. A suitable motor actuated pump 13 is provided and is placed in communication with the bottom of the circulation tank 11 by means of a pipe 14 entering the bottom of said tank and an upper pipe 15 entering the top portion of the tank. Intermediate the ends of the circulation pipe 15, a vacuum creating means 16 is provided. A suitable means of this kind is illustrated in Fig. 5 and may comprise an ejector or nozzle 17 projecting into a vacuum chamber 18 and directing a forced stream of water from the pump into a restricted receiver 22, spaced from the inner end of the ejector 1'7. A vacuum line 19 extends from one side of the chamber 18 over into the condensation tank 12. A check valve 20 may be associated with the vacuum line 19.

The structure just described is adapted to create a vacuum throughout the return line of the system whereby condensation is drawn therefrom.

At one side of the condensation tank 12, steam o trap or fioat valve means 21 are disposed. This 8 structure comprises a condensation chamber 22 communicating at its bottom with the interior of the condensation tank 12 by a suitable outlet connection 23. It may be here noted that the condensation tank 12 is provided with a water seal, the level of which is normally maintained immediately beneath the entry port of the vacuum line 19, as indicated at 24.

Laterally of the condensation chamber 22, the latter is placed in communication as at 25 with the return pipe 26 of the heating system. It will now be understood that the vacuum set up in this system is effective for drawing air and condensation through the pipe 26 into the condensation chamber 22 through the tank 12 and vacuum line 19 into the circulation pipe 15 from where the liquid is returned into the circulation tank 11.

It will be noted in the preceding description that the condensation chamber 22 serves as the primary condensation receiver. Means are provided for precluding entry of condensation into the condensation tank 12 until a considerable volume of condensation has been accumulated. Means for achieving this purpose are illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. A vertical tube 2'7 is disposed interiorly of chamber 22 in communication with the outlet pipe 23 entering tank 12, as shown at 28. Lateral inlet ports 29 are formed in. tube 27. These ports are controlled by a float 30 recipro- 11g cable on tube 27. In its lowered position, sleeve 55 of float completely closes ports 29 so that the condensation accumulates. As the float is raised, the ports 29 are progressively uncovered. It will be noted that, in the top of the tube 27, a small perforation 31 is provided, the top of sleeve 55 being open so that air and vapor may be drawn from the system despite the fact that the float may be in its completely lowered position.

The float valve means shown in Figs. 1 and 3 are associated with means for automatically supplying power to the pump motor. These means include a rod 32 connected to the top of tube 27 by means of the bracket 33. The rod 32 extends through a bushing 34 disposed in the top 35 of the chamber. At its outer end, said rod is connected as at 36 with the main switch 3'7 which in turn is electrically connected with the pump motor as indicated at 59. Intermediate the ends of rod 32 a valve abutment 38 is disposed and which is adapted to limit the upward movement of the rod 32 by abutment with the valve seat 39.

It will be seen that when the amount of condensation drawn into the chamber 22 is sufficient to raise the float to its greatest height, the switch 37 will be actuated for supplying power to the pump motor. When the float has descended, after evacuation of the chamber, the weight of the float turns off the switch 37, said weight being made sufficient for this purpose. Under normal heating conditions, switch 37 might be held in the on position for an indefinite period since the constant supplying of steam to the system from the boiler would result in sufficient condensation to maintain the float in the raised position wherein the switch 37 is closed. When the steam supply is materially reduced or out 01f, the lowering of the condensation level in chamber 22 permits the float to drop for actuating switch 3'7 to the off position.

A modification of the float valve means is shown in Fig. 4. This means is not automatic and provides merely for the perforate tube 40 and the float 41 controlling said perforations. As illustrated in Fig. 4 the perforations 42 may be disposed in a spiral line along a tube whereby any suction action tending to bind the float to one side or the other of the tube 40 is precluded.

It may be here noted that the operation of the vacuum creating means sets up a static vacuum above the water seal level 24 in condensation tank 12. This static vacuum is eifective during a limited period after an operation of the pump, for drawing the condensation from the system and raising the water level in tank 12 to a limited extent. By this means, a considerable amount of condensation may be drawn into tank 12 without operation of the pump. The variation in the amount of vacuum in tank 12 may be recorded on a suitable gauge 56. A vacuum-operated switch 5'7 on top of tank 12 and electrically connected as at 58 with the pump motor, is adapted to actuate said motor when the vacuum in tank 12 has diminished to a pre-determined degree, and to stop the motor when a selected high degree of vacuum has been attained.

This invention provides likewise for controlling the volume of condensation in the circulation tank 11. This means includes a float 43 disposed within the tank and reciprocable upon a guide rod 44. said rod being slidably supported by a suitable elongated bracket 45 or the like. The upper end of rod 44 projects slidably through tank 11 and is connected with the lever of a switch 46. Within the tank 11, and adjacent each end of said rod, is a pair of adjustable collars 47 and 48. It will be seen that when the condensation in tank 11 has carried the float to a suiflcient height, the latter will abut collar 47 and carry the rod 44 upwardly for actuating switch 46. In reverse manner, when the float has descended sufiiciently, it will abut the lower collar 48 and turn off the switch.

The switch 46 through suitable electrical connection 60, controls a solenoid 49 which may be disposed on the outer side of tank 11 and which is adapted to actuate a suitable valve 50 disposed intermediate the ends of a by-pass 51. One end ofthe by-pass 51 enters the circulation pipe 15 below the vacuum creating means 16. The other end of by-pass 51 terminates within the boiler 8. It will now be understood that when the float in its upward movement has actuated switch 46, the solenoid in turn will open the by-pass valve 50 so that a portion of the liquid being circulated through line 15, is bypassed to the boiler through the line 51 described. The level of the liquid in tank 11 is thus caused to fall until the float abuts the collar 48 whereby the switch 46 is turned off and the by-pass valve 50 closed. In this instance likewise, the weight of the float is made suiflcient to move the switch 46 to the off position. Within the tank 11 a bafiie plate 52 may be disposed for preventing water from the upper end of line 15 being directed immediately against the float 43 and the associated parts.

The high and low levels of liquid in tank 11 are indicated generally at 53 and 54, respectively, the lower level 54 being maintained constantly for providing a seal for the pump.

The means just described, as previously indicated, are adapted to by-pass to the boiler a certain amount of condensation moving into the circulation tank 11. It happens at times, that the volume of condensation carried into tank 11 is too great to permit the required degree of evacuation of tank 11 by the by-pass means, so

that there is danger of overcharging or over- I flowing said tank, unless a longer operation of the by-pass means is provided for. Such longer operation of said means might be precluded if at this time the vacuum switch 57, associated with tank 12, were permitted to de-energize the pump motor. To prevent this, switch 46 is made to perform a double function. In addition to controlling the by-pass valve, switch 46 is electrically connected with switch 57, as indicated at 61, in such way that switch 57 is temporarily eliminated from the circuit and has no control of the pump motor so long as the by-pass switch 46 is turned to the on position. In this way, the by-pass valve 50 is held open until the liquid low level 54 in tank 11 has been restored at which time the float 43 turns off switch 46 and the vacuum operated switch 57 is permitted to re-assume its control of the pump motor. The high and low levels 53 and 54 in tank 11, may be so calculated that frequent operations of the by-pass means result, and this, in addition to the cutting out of switch 57, as described, completely obviates any danger of overflowing the circulation tank.

What is claimed is:

1. Vacuum condensation means for steam heat systems and comprising a circulation tank, a condensation tank communicating with the circulation tank, a condensation chamber communicating with the condensation tank and the return pipe of the system and serving as the primary condensation receiver, vacuum creating means for drawing air and condensation from the system into the condensation chamber, condensation tank and circulation tank successively and means associated with the condensation chamber for starting operation of the vacuum creating means upon accumulation in said chamber of a selected volume of condensation and for stopping such operation upon evacuation of said chamber.

2. The combination with a steam heating system, of condensation control means comprising a condensation tank, a condensation chamber communicating with said tank and with the return pipe of the system and serving as the primary condensation receiver, vacuum creating means for drawing air and condensation from the system into the condensation chamber and tank successively, means associated with the condensation chamber for starting operation of the vacuum creating means upon accumulation in said chamber of a selected volume of condensation and for stopping such operation upon evacuation of the chamber, and means for receiving condensation from the condensation tank.

3. The combination with a steam heating system, of condensation control means comprising a condensation tank, a condensation chamber communicating with the return pipe of the system and provided with an outlet into said tank, said chamber serving as the primary condensation receiver, vacuum creating means for drawing air and condensation from the system into the chamber and tank successively, a vertical tube in said chamber communicating with the chamber outlet and provided with lateral inlet ports, and a float reciprocable on said tube and controlling said ports to preclude passage of condensation into said tank until the float has been raised above said ports by an accumulation of condensation, said vacuum creating means being adapted to be operated when the volume of condensation in said chamber has reached a selected high level.

4. The combination with a steam heating system comprising a condensation tank and vacuum creating means for drawing condensation from the system into the tank, of condensation control means comprising a condensation chamber communicating with the return pipe of the system and provided with an outlet into said tank, said chamber serving as the primary condensation receiver, a vertical tube in the chamber communicating with said outlet and provided with lateral condensation inlet ports, a float reciprocable on said tube and precluding passage of condensation into said tank until the float has been raised above said ports by an accumulation of condensation, an electric switch adjacent said chamber and controlling said vacuum creating means, and an extension on the float projecting outwardly of said chamber and connected with said switch whereby the switch is turned on at a selected high level of the float for operating the vacuum means and evacuating said chamber and is turned oh by weight of the float when the chamber is evacuated.

5. The combination with a circulation tank adapted for use with a steam heating system, said tank having an outside circulation pipe with its ends entering the tank, of means for controlling the volume of liquid in said tank, said means comprising a slidable vertical guide rod in the tank and having one end projecting outwardly of the tank, a float in the tank and reciprocable on the rod, abutment means on the rod within the tank and adjacent the upper and lower portions of the rod, an electric switch positioned exteriorly of the tank and associated with the projecting end of said rod, the float at a predetermined stage of its upward movement being adapted to contact the upper abutment for carrying the rod upwardly to turn on said switch and similarly in its downward movement being adapted to contact the lower abutment for turning off the switch, a by-pass leading from the circulation pipe to a suitable depository, a valve for controlling the by-pass and a solenoid controlled by said switch and adapted to open the valve when the switch is closed and to close the valve when the switch is opened;

6. The combination of a circulation tank, a circulation pipe outside the tank and entering it at top and bottom of the tank, a by-pass leading from said pipe to a suitable depository, a valve controlling the by-pass, a solenoid controlling the valve, a float in the tank, an electric switch on the tank, and means associating the float and switch whereby the switch is turned on at a predetermined high level of the float for opening said valve and is turned oif at a predetermined low level of the float for closing the valve.

CLAYTON D. BREESE. 

